Door latch



Feb; 9, 1943. J, H ROETHEL I 2,310,549

DOOR LATCH Filed Jan. 22, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1N VENTOR A7' aRNE a J. H. ROETHEL DOOR LATCH Filed Jan. 22, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 9, 1943 unire fg' E E F C 27 Claims.

This invention relates generally to door latches and particularly, although not exclusively, to latch devices adapted for use in connection with the doors of automobiles and other vehicles. The invention contemplates the provision of an improved device of this class including lock mechanism adapted to be installed upon the swinging door of the automobile or vehicle body, an improved striker mechanism cooperable with the latch bolt and adapted to be installed on the door post or pillar, and improved means associated with the latch bolt and striker mechanism for holdingr the door firmly in position against transverse and vertical movements during operation of the vehicle. An object of the invention is to provide an improved device of the above class or type which is relatively simple and compact in construction, economical to manufacture, durable and eliicient in use and which in operation is also capable of providing an easy and relatively quiet closing door, a particularly important objective in connection with the steel doors of automobiles.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved latch bolt and striker device which in efcient and simple manner combines the functions heretofore accomplished in separate striker device and dovetail units and which in addition permits simplification of the latch bolt mechanism mounted upon the door.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved striker unit adapted to be mounted upon the body pillar or post and having a spring pressed striker member adapted normally to extend downwardly into the path of a longitudinally extending normally non-retractible latch bolt and adapted to be depressed or forced upwardly by the bolt, when the door is closed, thereby permitting the bolt to pass the striker member and to engage a curved or arcuate face thereof, rm and tight engagement of the bolt with the striker member being ensured under all conditions by means of yieldable wedging means whereby the door` is held rigidly against chattering or vibratory motion during operation of the vehicle.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved latch bolt and striker device embodying a normally non-retractible latch bolt, a vertically movable striker member adapted to project downwardly into the transverse path of movement of the bolt, and yieldable wedge means associated therewith and cooperable with the latch bolt and striker member to hold the door against vertical and transverse movements during operation of the vehicle, the improved construction being such as to provide a simple, compact and inexpensive mechanism producing an easy and quiet closing door which will be held rmly andpositively under operating conditions of the vehicle.

Another object of the invention is .to provide a striker assembly adapted to be mounted upon the door post or pillar and embodying a movable striker member, such as a pivotally mounted striker member, mounted to extend generally vertically into the path of a normally stationary longitudinally extending latch bolt and in which the striker member includes in one unit successive safety and final locking portions or steps adapted to be engaged by the latch bolt, the latter being retractible only when opening the door.

Another obj-ect of the invention is to provide a striker assembly in which the striker member includes a safety locking step and anal lockingstep successively engaged by the bolt, the safety locking step being shifted bythe bolt relatively to the final locking step and the striker member being shifted as a unit upon engagement of the bolt with the final locking step as the door is closed.

Still av further object is to provide an assembly or device of the foregoing character in Which the door may be closed without slamming and with a minimum of effort and quietness, making it unnecessary to cause the bolt to retract when closing the door and permitting the door to be readily opened by turning the handle to retract the bolt sufliciently to clear the striker member or members, thereby permitting the end of the latch bolt to pass thereby as the door is pulled open.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings form a part of this specication wherein like reference characters designate correspon ing parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a portion of an automobile body in which the present invention is incorporated inthe doors thereof.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially through lines 2 2 of Fig. l looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially through lines 3--3 0f Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section taken substantially through lines 4-4 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section illustrating another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 6 is an inner face view, in elevation, illustrating one embodiment of the latch bolt unit.

Fig. '7 is a horizontal section taken substantially through lines 'I-I of Fig. 6 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken substantially through lines 8-8 of Fig. 6 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 9 is an end view, in elevation, showing the latch bolt unit, the view being taken in the direction of the jamb edge of .the door.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view, in elevation, showing certain modifications of the latch bolt unit.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that `the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, and it is not intended to limit the invention claimed herein beyond the requirements of the prior art.

In the drawings there are illustrated, by way of example, several embodiments of the present invention as applied to an automobile body B having a swinging door D, the mechanism of the present invention comprising a latch bolt device mounted upon the door and a striker device mounted upon the body pillar or post at the jamb face of th door opening.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2 to 4, inclusive, the striker device which is mounted upon the fixed body pillar or post comprises a backing plate I5 adapted to be mounted against the face of the pillar jamb I1 of the body. Mounted upon the backing plate I5 of the striker device is an upper pressed metal casing I8 which has a flange I8. provided with countersunk holes for the re ception of screws I6 by which the casing together with the backing plate are secured to the pillar jamb I'I. Below the casing I8 is a second casing I9 designed to receive a dovetail slide block, this latter casing having a depending flange I9a also secured to the pillar jamb II by screws I6a.

Within the upper casing I8 is a striker member which is pivotally mounted at its outer side and off-center upon a pin 2I riveted to the outer wall of the casing I8 and to the backing plate I5. As seen in Fig. 3 the metallic striker member 20 has a recess 22 in its inner wall and within this recess is located a spring 23 coiled around the pivot pin 2l, one end 23a of the spring engaging the upright wall of the recess 22 in the striker and the other end 23h of the spring engaging the outer upright wall of the casing. IThe striker member 20 is adapted to project downwardly through a slot or opening 24 in the bottom wall of the casing I8 and is formed with a projecting wedge shaped step 25 which normally extends below the casing I8 into the path of the latch bolt 26. The striker member 20 has an upward projection or lug 2'I adapted to engage a fixed rubber bumper 28 in the casing. The striker also has an inward projection or lug 29 adapted to overlie and engage a struck-out portion 30 of the backing plate.

The striker member 20 not only comprises the final locking step 25 for the latch bolt but also a rst or safety locking step 3| which is carried by the striker member and in the present embodiment is independently yieldable or retractible relatively thereto. The safety step 3I comprises a plunger set at an oblique angle with respect to the body of the striker member so as to present inner side and bottom faces 3 Ib and 3 Ia, respectively, in the form of a wedge extending normally into the path of the latch bolt. The plunger 3I extends upwardly through a slot or hole 32 which terminates within the body of the striker member and opens through the bottom face 20a thereof. Rubber bumpers 33 are secured to opposite faces of the plunger 3| through the medium of a cross pin 34, the bumpers extending laterally into slots 3'I in the striker A member which communicate with the hole 32.

A compression spring 35 engages the inner end of the plunger and is confined within a counterbore 36 in the member 20.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the lower end of the plunger 3I forms a wedge-shaped safety step normally projecting below the bottom face 20a of the striker member into the path of the latch bolt 26, this step extending, if desired, a less distance downwardly into the path of the latch bolt than the final locking step 25. The spring 35 is materially lighter or weaker than the main return spring 23 for the striker 20, and hence when the bolt is moved inwardly to latching position it will engage and force back the striker portion 3I relatively to the main striker member 2U and without moving the latter upwardly about its pivot 2|. The bolt 26 extends longitudinally in a direction parallel to the axis ZI of the striker and is provided with a tapered face 26a at its upper outer edge adapted to cooperate in its safety position with the inclined or tapered face 3Ib of the safety locking step 3|. In its final locking position the bolt engages the arcuate face 25D which preferably is a curve centered at the pivot 2I.

It will be noted that when the bolt 26 passes inwardly by the safety member 3|, the bolt will fully clear the member 3| before engagement with the face 25a of the final locking step, thus permitting the plunger 3| to be projected fully by its spring and fully engage the inclined face 3Ib of the plunger with the inclined face 26a of the bolt. This is accomplished by providing a clearance at 25e in the angle between the faces 1 3Ib and 25a, as seen in Fig. 2. As the bolt passes l inwardly beyond the safety step 3| it will engage the inclined face 25a of the final step and rock the striker member 2U upwardly about its pivot 2I until the bolt moves to the full line position of Fig. 2 to effect engagement of its face 26a with the curved or arcuate face 25h of the striker member. The full and dotted line positions of the striker member 20 in Fig. 2 illustrate the wide range of variation permissible between the contacting points of the bolt and the striker member while at the same time prowding eilicient locking action, thereby accommodating manufacturing tolerances and inaccuracies in production.

The bottom casing I9 of the striker assembly partially houses a wedge shaped slide block which has a limited sliding movement upon the bottom inclined wall I9b of the casing. The rear end of the block has a hole or bore 38 within which is mounted a compression spring 39 which is interposed between the block and the back wall of the casing I9. The block is held `within the casing and limited as to its outward movement through the medium of a tongue 4| on the casing which extends into a notch or recess lilla in the block. The upper Wall 40h of the wedge block 40 is exposed for engagement by the wedge member 42 secured to the door at a. point below but outwardly of the bolt 26. The dove-tail Wedge 4.2 has an inclined lower face 42a which rides upon the upper inclined face 40h 'of the slide block, and as the door is closed the wedge member 42 will, as it passes into the space between the casings I8 and I9, force the block 6 inwardly against the action of the spring 39', thus tending to lift the door and through the cooperative action of the bolt 25 against the face 25h of the striker member clamping the door rigidly between the block 45 and the striker member 26. Since the block 46 is continuously urged outwardly by its spring 3S, thereby tending to raise the wedge member 42, any play between the bolt and striker face 2511 when the latter is forced home to its` dotted line position oi Fig. 2 will be taken up by outward movement ci wedge 46. In other words, any play between bolt and striker will be transmitted as play between members 10 and 42 when the door vibrates upwardly and this will be taken up by the spring 39 forcing the wedge l0 out to close tightly the slight space between the parts.

Referring particularly to Figs. 6 to 9, inclusive, the latch bolt device C in the .present instance comprises a case plate i3 terminating at its outer edge in a lateral flange 43a having an opening through which slidingly extendsv the bolt 26, the dovetail wedge member d'2 bein-g secured by screws to the flange 43a at a point just below and outwardly oi the bolt 26. The case plate 53 has screw bosses @3b by which` it may be secured by screws to the inner lock panel of the door. The rear end of the bolt 26 is engaged by one end of a spiral spring 54, the opposite end of the spring being secured to the case plate. Riveted to the inner end of the bolt is a slide plate 45 having a horizontal guide slot 45a through which extends a stud 46 riveted to the case plate. The latch device of Fig. 6 is designed for the front door of an automobile body and is, therefore, remotely controlled from the inner side of the door through the medium of a link lll having a lost motion slot 49 through which extends a stud 58 secured to the inner end of the slide 45. The end of the remote control link 4'! is connected to the inner door handle 56 in the usual manner. The outer door handle l (Fig. l)y may be turned to operate the shaft 52 which in turn operates the roll back 53 which engages the turned ange 45h of the latch bolt slide 45. By turning the handle 52 the roll back 53 is partially rotated to retract the latch bolt 26 independently of the inner door handle 56. The latter also may be turned to retract the slide 45 and the latch bolt 26 against the action of the return spring 44. k,

The bolt 25 may be locked against retraction through operation oi either of the handles through the medium of a push and pull device at the inner side of the door. This locking device comprises a plunger 54 having a knob at its' upper end, the plunger extending through a hole in the garnish molding and pivotally connected at its lower end to a slide 55. A channel shaped spring metal member 56 embraces the slide and is mounted upon a rivet stud 51 which extends through a guide slot 58 in the slide 55. The piece 56 is provided with an indentation or embossment 59 adapted to engage in depressions in the face of the slide 55 to yieldingly andfrictionally hold the slide in either its up or down positions of adjustment. The slide 55 at its lower end terminates in a clogging device 66 adapted to extend between a projecting flange 62 on the slide Ll5 and a fixed abutment 6l on the case plate. Thus, when the plunger 54 is pushed down to move the clogging portion 66 between the portions 6l and 62, the slide will be locked and the bolt held against retraction, this locking position being indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6. When the slide 55 is raised to its full line position of Fig. 6 the bolt 26 is free to be retracted by operating either of the door handles.

In Figure l0 the latch bolt device of Fig. 6 is modified for use as a key control lock. In this instance there is mounted upon the shaft 52 a bell crank lever 63 having an arm 63a provided with a projection 64 underlying the lower end' 69 of the slide 55. The other arm 63h of the throw-out lever is provided with an aperture 65 having cam faces engaged by the rounded end of a cam arm 65 secured oir-center to a shaft 5l which may be turned by turning the key in the lock (not shown). Assuming that the lock portion 66 of the slide 55 is in dogging position between the portions 6l and 62, the key of the lock may be turned to turn the shaft 5'! and thereby rotate the cam or eccentric 66 from its dotted line position to its full line position of Fig. l0, thus rocking the bell crank lever upon the shaft 52 and causing the end 64 of the lever to force the dog 65 out of the path of the part 52 on the latch bolt slide 45. By then turning the key in the reverse direction so as to move the cam S5 and the lever 63 to the dotted line position of Fig. l0, the end 65 of the lever will be moved downwardly out of the path of the slide 45, thereby permitting the latch bolt to be retracted by either of the door handles.

Referring to Fig. 5, there is shown a second embodiment of the striker device A comprising a backing plate lli having a casing 'il housing a compound striker member l2 which is pivoted, as in the case of the striker member 20, upon a transverse stud E3 and which in like manner is controlled by a spring ld functioning similar to the spring 23 and mounted in a similar manner. The striker member l2 has a lug 'l5 engageable with a fixed rubber bumper it on the backing plate, and also has a lug or projection engageable with an abutment 8l on thev backing plate. The striker member 'i5 is provided with a transversely spaced safety and nal lockmg steps 'l and 53, respectively. Each step is wedge shaped, presenting inclined faces to the bolt 26 similar to the corresponding faces of the safety and final locking steps of the striker device A. In this instance, however, the safety locking step Tl is integral with the striker member and xed with relation to the step I6. A clearance space 'I9 is formed between the steps so that when the bolt 26 passes the safety step i1 and the latter is forced home by the spring 'l5 against the inclined face 26a of the bolt the relieved portion IS of the striker member will not strike the upper end of the bolt and cause an obj ectionable clicking noise. The dotted position E indicates the position of the striker member as it is moved upward about its pivct by engagement of the bolt with the safety locking step. The upward movement of the bolt at this time will be limited by engagement of the relieved edge 82 of the striker member with the rubber .between these parts.

bumper '16. The full and dotted line positions G and F in Fig. 5 illustrate the amount of takeup between the bolt and striker member as previously described. The construction of the striker device in Fig. 5 is otherwise the same as illustrated in Fig. 2 having in like manner wedging means 4E) and 42 by which in cooperation with the bolt and striker member the door is rigidly held against movement.

t will be noted that the bolt 26 has a tapered face 26a at its upper trailing edge having substantially a line Contact with the arcuate face of the striker member. The yieldable wedge block will, however, eliminate any vertical play between the parts at their point of contact. Heretoforey it has been proposed to employ an eccentric instead of arcuate face on the striker member in order to gain some wedging action Such proposals have been impracticable since with an eccentric face the bolt will exert a camming action on the striker member and eventually work itself loose. Hence, if the striker member is pivoted to swing vertically into the path of the bolt the latching face thereof, to be practicable, should be arcuate and centered at the axis of the striker member. Such a construction has heretofore had the disadvantage of providing no inherent way of taking up play between the bolt and striker when the latter is fully home. An important feature of the present invention is the provision of yieldable wedging means which automatically maintains the bolt in tight engagement with the striker member and takes up any play between the parts.

I claim:

l. A striker or keeper device for use in cooperation with a latch bolt and in association with a swinging door hinged at one edge to a frame structure, comprising a casing, a striker member mounted on the casing for up and down movement and having a bolt latching step extending into the path of the bolt, yieldable means urging said step into the path of the bolt, and yieldable wedging means engageable by a member on the door and movable in a path approximately parallel to the path of the bolt for tightening the bolt against said striker step.

2. A striker or keeper device for use in cooperation with a latch bolt and in association with a swinging door hinged at one edge to a frame structure, comprising a casing, a striker member mounted on the casing for up and down movement and having a bolt latching step extending into the path of the bolt, yieldable means urging said step downwardly into the path ci the bolt, and yieldable wedging means engageable by a member on the door and movable in a transverse path in the direction of closing and opening of the door for forcing said bolt upwardly against said striker step.

3. A striker or keeper device for use in cooperation with a latch bolt and in association with a swinging door hinged at one edge to a frame structure, comprisinga casing, a striker member pivotally mounted on the casing for up and down movement and having a bolt latching step extending into the path of the bolt, yieldable means urging said step into the path of the bolt, and yieldable wedging means engageable by a member on the door and movable in a path approximately parallel to the path of the bolt for tightening the bolt against said striker step.

4. A striker or keeper device for use in cooperation with a latch bolt and in association with a swinging door hinged at one edge to a frame structure, comprising a casing, a striker member adapted to be mounted on the casing for up and down movement and having a pair of transversely spaced bolt latching steps extending downwardly into the path of the bolt, and springs means urging said steps into the path of the bolt, one of said steps being mounted upon the other step to move up and down thereon.

5. A striker or keeper device for use in c0- operation with a latch bolt and in association with a swinging door hinged at one edge to a frame structure, comprising a casing, a striker member adapted to be pivotally mounted on the casing for up and down movement and having a pair of transversely spaced bolt latching steps extending downwardly into the path of the bolt, and spring means urging said steps into the path of the bolt, one of said steps being mounted to slide up and down upon the other.

6. A striker or keeper device for use in cooperation with a latch bolt mounted upon a swinging door hinged at one edge to a frame structure, comprising a striker member adapted to be mounted on the frame structure for up and down movement and having a pair of transversely spaced bolt latching steps extending downwardly into the path of the bolt, spring means urging said steps into the path of the bolt, one of said steps being mounted to slide up and down upon the other, and a transversely movable yieldable wedge member engaged by a part on the swinging edge of the door for tightening the bolt against the striker member.

7. A striker or keeper device for use in cooperation with a latch bolt mounted upon a swing-- ing door hinged at one edge to a frame structure, comprising a striker member adapted to be pivotally mounted on the frame structure for up and down movement and having a pair of transversely spaced bolt latching steps extending downwardly into the path of the bolt, spring means urging said steps into the path of the bolt, and. a transversely movable yieldable wedge member engaged by a part on the swinging edge of the door for tightening the bolt against the striker member.

8. A striker or keeper device for use in cooperation with a latch bolt mounted upon a swinging door hinged at one edge to a frame structure. comprising a casing adapted to be mounted on said structure, a striker member pivotally mounted upon the casing and having two downwardly projecting bolt latching steps swingable vertically into and out of the path of the bolt, one step having an arcuate face engaged by a tapered l face at the upper trailing edge of the bolt, and a spring pressed wedge block mounted on the casing for movement in a path approximately parallel to the path of the bolt under the influence of a guide member on the swinging edge of the door and effective to exert a. lifting effort to maintain tight engagement between the tapered face of the bolt and said arcuate face of the striker.

9. A striker or keeper device for use in cooperation with a latch bolt mounted upon a swinging door hinged at one edge to a frame structure, comprising a casing adapted to be mounted on said structure, a striker member pivotally mounted upon the casing and having a downwardly projecting bolt latching step swingable vertically into and out of the path of the bolt. said step having an arcuate face engaged by a tapered face at the upper trailing edge of the bolt, and a, spring pressed wedge block mounted on the casing for movement in a path approximately parallel to the path of the bolt under the influence of a guide member on the swinging edge of the door and effective to exert a lifting eiort to maintain tight engagement between the tapered face of the bolt and said arcuate face of the striker.

10. A striker of keeper device for use in cooperation with a latch bolt mounted upon a swinging door hinged at one edge to a frame structure, comprising a casing adapted to be mounted on said structure, a striker member pivotally mounted upon the casing and having a downwardly projecting bolt latching step swingable vertically into and out of the path of the bolt, said step having an arcuate face engaged by a tapered face at the upper trailing edge of the bolt, and a spring pressed Wedge block mounted on the casing for movement in a path approximately parallel to the path of the bolt under the influence of a guide member on the swinging edge of the door and effective to exert a lifting eiort to maintain tight engagement between the tapered face of the bolt and said arouate face of the striker, said wedge block being mounted to slide on an inclined wall of the casing immediately below the striker member and said bolt adapted to pass between the wedge block and striker member.

11. A striker device for use in connection with a latch bolt and in association with a swinging door hinged at one edge to a frame structure, comprising a casing, a striker member mounted on the casing for up and down movement and having a bolt latching step extending into position to engage the bolt, yieldable means urging said step into. said position, and yieldable means engageable by a member on the door independently of the bolt and striker member for positively tightening the latching engagementof the bolt and said step, said yieldable means being odset transversely with respect to said step in the direction of opening of the door.

12. A striker device for use in connection with a latch bolt and in association with a swinging door hinged at one edge to a frame structure, comprising a casing, a striker mounted on the casing for up and down movement and including a pair of transversely spaced bolt latching steps extending into positions for successive engagement by the bolt, yieldable means urging said steps into said positions, and yieldable means engageable by a member on the door independently of the bolt and striker for positively tightening the latching engagement of the bolt and one of said steps, said yieldable means being offset transversely with respect to said last named step in the direction of opening of the door.

13. A striker device for use in connection with a latch bolt and in association with a swinging door hinged at one edge to a frame structure, comprising a casing, a striker member pivotally mounted on the casing for up and down movement and including a bolt latching step extending into the path of the bolt, yieldable means urging said step in a generally vertical direction into the path of the bolt, and yieldable wedging means engageable by a member on the door and movable in a transverse path in the direction of closing and opening of the door for forcing said bolt in the opposite direction against said striker step.

14. A striker device for use in connection with Cil l a latch bolt and in association with a swinging door hinged at one edge to a frame structure, comprising a casing, a striker mounted on the casing for up and down movement and including a pair of transversely spaced bolt latching Y steps extending in a generally vertical direction into the path of the bolt, and spring means urging said steps into the path of the bolt, one oI said steps being mounted to slide up and down upon the o-ther.

15. A striker device for use in connection with a latch bolt and in association with a swinging door hinged at one edge to a frame structure, comprising a casing, a striker pivotally mounted on the ycasing for up and down movement and including a pair of transversely spaced bolt latching steps extending in a. generally vertical direc` tion into the path of the bolt, and spring means urging said steps into the path of the bolt, one of said steps being mounted to slide up and down upon the other.

16. A striker device for use in connection with a latch bolt and in association with a swinging door hinged at one edge to a frame structure, comprising a casing, a striker mounted on the casing for up and down movement and including a pair of transversely spaced bolt latching steps extending in a generally vertical direction into the path of the bolt, spring means urging said steps into the path of the bolt, and a transversely movable yieldable wedge member engaged by a part on the swinging edge of the door for tightening the bolt against one of said steps.

17. A striker device for use in connection with a latch bolt and in association with a swinging door hinged at one edge to a frame structure,

comprising a casing, a striker member mounted on the casing for up and down movement and having a bolt latching step extending into position to engage said bolt, yieldable means urging said step into said position and yieldable transversely movable means engageable by a member on the door independently of the bolt and striker member for positively tightening the latching engagement of the bolt and said step.

18. A striker or keeper device for use in cooperation with a latch bolt and in association with a swinging door hinged at one edge to a frame structure, comprising a casing, a striker member mounted on the casing for up and down movement and having a pair of transversely spaced relatively movable bolt latching steps extending in a generally vertical direction into the path of the bolt, spring means urging said steps into the path of the bolt, and means engageable by a member on the door for tightening said bolt against one of said steps and offset transversely with respect to said step in the direction of opening of the door.

19. A striker device for use in cooperation with a latch bolt mounted upon a swinging door hinged at one edge to a frame'structure, comprising a striker member adapte-d to be mounted on a fixed portion of the frame structure and comprising two bolt latching steps normally projecting downwardly into the path of the bolt and spaced apart in the direction of closing of the door, means for supporting said striker member for up and down movement relatively to the bolt, spring means urging said striker member and each of said steps downwardly toward the bolt, wedge means on the frame structuremovable in the direction of closing of the door under the influence of a projecting guide member on the door, and spring means urging said wedge means in the opposite direction to tighten the bolt against the striker member.

20. A striker device for use in cooperation with a latch bolt mounted upon a swinging door hinged at one edge to a frame structure, comprising a substantially vertically yieldable striker member having a bolt latching step projecting into the path of the bolt for latching the same in the closed position of the door, and a substantially vertically yieldable step mounted on said member for latching the bolt in partially closed position.

21. A striker device for use in cooperation with a latch bolt and in association with a swinging door hinged at one edge to a frame structure, comprising a pair of substantially vertically movable laterally spaced step membersY projecting into the path of the bolt for latching the same in partially and fully closed positions, spring means opposing vertical movement of said members when engaged by the bolt, one of said members resisting movement of the bolt to latching position with greater' effort than the other' member.

22. A striker device for use in cooperation with a latch bolt mounted upon a swinging door hinged at one edge to a frame structure, comprising a pair of substantially vertically movable laterally spaced step members projecting into the path of the bolt for latching the same in partially and fully closed positions, a separate spring opposing vertical movement of each member when engaged by the bolt, one spring being stronger than the other spring and resisting movement of the bolt to a latching position with greater effort than the other spring.

23. A striker device for use in cooperation with a latch bolt and in association with a. swinging door hinged at one edge to a frame structure, comprising a pair of spring pressed substantially vertically movable keeper members spaced in the direction of closing of the swinging edge of the door and projecting downwardly into the path of the bolt, a wedge member adapted to be mounted on the frame structure and movable in the direction of closing of the door under the influence of a guide member on the door, and spring means urging said wedge member in the opposite direction.

24. A striker device for use in cooperation with a latch bolt and in association with a swinging door hinged at one edge to a frame structure,

comprising a pair of substantially vertically movable step members projecting into the path of the bolt for latching the same in partially and fully closed positions, spring means opposing vertical movement of said members when engaged by the bolt, one of said members resisting movement of the bolt to latching position with greater effort than the other member.

25. A striker device for use in cooperation with a latch bolt and in association with a swinging door hinged at one edge to a frame structure comprising a pair of substantially vertically movable step members projecting into the path of the bolt for latching the same in partially and fully closed positions, a separate spring opposing vertical movement of each member when engaged by the bolt, one spring resisting movement of the bolt to a latching position with greater effort than the other spring.

26. A striker unit comprising upper and lower casing portions, a striker member movable up and down in one casing portion and terminating in a bolt latching step, spring means urging said step into the path of the bolt, a block slidable inwardly on an inclined wall of the other casing portion upon engagement therewith of a guide member on the edge of a swinging door, and spring means urging said block outwardly to effect a tight engagement between the bolt and bolt latching step.

27. A striker unit comprising two spring pressed striker steps spaced in the direction of closing of the door and movable substantially vertically into the path of a latch bolt, and a spring pressed block movable transversely to the direction of movement of the striker steps upon engagement therewith of a member on the edge of a swinging door and operative to urge the bolt in a vertical direction against each of said steps.

JOHN H. ROETHEL. 

